For as long as I can remember, my favorite time of day has been that expanse of time between the first lighter shade of sky in the morning and the full brightness of the sun up over the horizon. My spirit rises with the sun as the changing sky illuminates, and I can almost hear an orchestra of nature’s making to accompany the grand opening of each day.

Luckily for me, I get to experience this pleasure nearly every day as I go on my morning run, and the ability to make that run year-round is greatly enhanced by a little device called the Princeton Tec Remix Headlamp.

Unlike my previous headlamp, the Princeton Tec Remix provides enough light to allow me to get out on the trail, or road, before that magical time of day, no matter which season. Lightweight enough to use on my cranium without the fear of it slipping down, or up and off, I run hands free and can detect the uneven trail or road surfaces that otherwise could cause a trip or fall. This affordable product ($39.99) has been especially useful since I have moved to a light-pollution sensitive area along the coast of southern California, where street lights are few and far between.

In fact, it has become quite the indispensable tool, hung by the doorway and always handy for other activities, such as getting an early start on a hike, walking the dog, taking out the trash, and a dozen other things that happen when the sun isn’t up. Because, let’s face it, there just aren’t enough hours of light in the day to accomplish everything an active person would like to. But by far the best reason to check out the Princeton Tec Remix is if you, like me, are in awe of the dawning of the day. The Princeton Tec is your VIP pass to one of nature’s greatest shows –a daily awakening.